Norway’s public prosecutor has dropped all charges against the founder of the radical Islamic group, Ansar al-Islam. The Kurdish group – which is based in northern Iraq – is regarded by the UN and US as a terrorist organisation. But the Norwegian authorities said there was not enough evidence to charge Mullah Krekar with conspiracy in a plot to murder political rivals in Iraq. Mullah Krekar has had refugee status in Norway since 1991 – he now faces being deported under a 2003 expulsion order. The expulsion order, which says Mullah Krekar is a risk to national security, was stalled because of the court case against him and the US-led war in Iraq. The Kurdish cleric says he stepped down as leader of Ansar al-Islam in 2002 and denies any terror links. Washington says the group has ties to al-Qaeda and blames it for attacks on coalition forces in Iraq. Full Story